TN government to ban online gambling sites, pass legislation soon

In view of a recent spate suicides in the state due to addiction to video games, the Tamil Nadu government has decided to ban online gambling websites and will soon pass a legislation in this regard.

Reports said the new law will be enforced to arrest those running and playing gambling games online.

Announcing the same on Thursday (November 5), Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami said online gambling was destroying the lives of youth, making them lose money and driving them towards suicide.

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“The Tamil Nadu government taking a note of the situation has decided to swiftly pass legislation for arresting people running the apps and those playing the gambling games that involve betting money,” the chief minister tweeted.

Palaniswami said the decision to ban online games has been taken considering the demands of various individuals and organisation. The state government has also intimated the Madras High Court about the same.

The Madurai bench of the Madras High Court on Tuesday had heard a PIL filed by Mohamed Rasvi, who sought a ban on online gaming apps.